Ryan Randall
@ryanpatrickrandall.com
A better world is possible, together.
Instructional design, humanities/Cultural Studies, pedagogy, open ed (OER/OA), library work. A human-presenting social media account.
https://www.ryanpatrickrandall.com/
https://hcommons.social/@ryanrandall
Instructional design, humanities/Cultural Studies, pedagogy, open ed (OER/OA), library work. A human-presenting social media account.
https://www.ryanpatrickrandall.com/
https://hcommons.social/@ryanrandall
Pinned
Ryan Randall
@ryanpatrickrandall.com
· Apr 25
Gentle reminder that there's no such thing as a "TERF".
The term you were looking for is "Feminism-Appropriating Reactionary Transphobe".
The term you were looking for is "Feminism-Appropriating Reactionary Transphobe".
Can't really separate out whether it's just because of the "shiny new something different" factor or the "platform provides extra ways to perceive progress" factor, but doing pomodoros with the Focumon site this week has been a lot more pleasant & productive than I anticipated.
November 29, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Can't really separate out whether it's just because of the "shiny new something different" factor or the "platform provides extra ways to perceive progress" factor, but doing pomodoros with the Focumon site this week has been a lot more pleasant & productive than I anticipated.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
I tell them I can help them work through literally anything else that may threaten them passing the course, and that I will do whatever I can to drag them across the finish line if I need to, so long as they don't cheat.
And then I give a short version of the speech again before every assignment.
And then I give a short version of the speech again before every assignment.
November 29, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I tell them I can help them work through literally anything else that may threaten them passing the course, and that I will do whatever I can to drag them across the finish line if I need to, so long as they don't cheat.
And then I give a short version of the speech again before every assignment.
And then I give a short version of the speech again before every assignment.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Would the digital humanities community like to have their own section on arxiv? Pros/cons?
This has been a challenge for cs.HC: we need folks to step up and support that category. Please contact me if you are interested in moderating either DH or HC! Thanks!
November 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Would the digital humanities community like to have their own section on arxiv? Pros/cons?
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Never enough money to pay a living wage, always enough money to stoke power.
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Never enough money to pay a living wage, always enough money to stoke power.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
- pelican
- alligator
- coyote
- moose
- pika
(That's chronological, leaving out a ton.)
- pelican
- alligator
- coyote
- moose
- pika
(That's chronological, leaving out a ton.)
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
black bear
ringneck pheasant
armadillo
osprey
marabou stork
black bear
ringneck pheasant
armadillo
osprey
marabou stork
Coyote
Moose
Bear
Hammerhead shark
Sea lion
Moose
Bear
Hammerhead shark
Sea lion
November 29, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
- pelican
- alligator
- coyote
- moose
- pika
(That's chronological, leaving out a ton.)
- pelican
- alligator
- coyote
- moose
- pika
(That's chronological, leaving out a ton.)
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Folks with Diabetes!
There is an urgent recall on some FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors because they are showing false low glucose readings.
Check your sensor serial numbers at freestylecheck.com
There is an urgent recall on some FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors because they are showing false low glucose readings.
Check your sensor serial numbers at freestylecheck.com
Home | FreeStyle - Abbott
freestylecheck.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Folks with Diabetes!
There is an urgent recall on some FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors because they are showing false low glucose readings.
Check your sensor serial numbers at freestylecheck.com
There is an urgent recall on some FreeStyle Libre 3 and FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors because they are showing false low glucose readings.
Check your sensor serial numbers at freestylecheck.com
I'm increasingly convinced that many invocations of "evidence-based practice" & general "best practices" often were tactics to avoid difficult critical & conjunctural analysis of our situations.
The through-line with Gen "AI" is the claim it can do the bulk of your thinking: cognitive offloading.
The through-line with Gen "AI" is the claim it can do the bulk of your thinking: cognitive offloading.
How come the policy obsession with "evidence-based" policy and technology in education of at least the last 20 years has completely evaporated with "AI"? ...
November 29, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I'm increasingly convinced that many invocations of "evidence-based practice" & general "best practices" often were tactics to avoid difficult critical & conjunctural analysis of our situations.
The through-line with Gen "AI" is the claim it can do the bulk of your thinking: cognitive offloading.
The through-line with Gen "AI" is the claim it can do the bulk of your thinking: cognitive offloading.
If you're curious about other potential places to put your ideas online, here's an overview I threw together for a small group of other higher ed folks a couple weeks ago.
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
November 28, 2025 at 9:37 PM
If you're curious about other potential places to put your ideas online, here's an overview I threw together for a small group of other higher ed folks a couple weeks ago.
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
It's definitely more of a "where might I…?", not a "how do I…?" overview!
But if that's where you're at, hopefully it'll help?
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Chances are, most platforms have support (free and paid) to help you switch platforms.
Ask yourself whether S*bst*ck's "social features" are worth supporting n*zis.
Ask yourself whether S*bst*ck's "social features" are worth supporting n*zis.
Can you all stop using Substack already? If you were mad about Bari Weiss becoming editor-in-chief of CBS News, why are you willing to hand over actual substantial support — your time, money, and energy — to the platform that literally partnered with her in December? www.theverge.com/2024/12/17/2...
Substack partners with Bari Weiss to launch an ‘enterprise offering’ website builder.
[Link: The new media, powered by Substack | https://on.substack.com/p/the-new-media-powered-by-substack? | on.substack.com]
This expansion is described as capable of supporting a “fully-fledged ...
www.theverge.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Chances are, most platforms have support (free and paid) to help you switch platforms.
Ask yourself whether S*bst*ck's "social features" are worth supporting n*zis.
Ask yourself whether S*bst*ck's "social features" are worth supporting n*zis.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Want to cozy up with some tasty books this season? I cooked up two new ones for you in 2025! Automatic Noodle (instant bestseller!) and the anthology We Will Rise Again co-edited with @older.bsky.social and @drkarenlord.bsky.social (out 12/2!). Have a feast! #booksky #blackfriday
November 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Want to cozy up with some tasty books this season? I cooked up two new ones for you in 2025! Automatic Noodle (instant bestseller!) and the anthology We Will Rise Again co-edited with @older.bsky.social and @drkarenlord.bsky.social (out 12/2!). Have a feast! #booksky #blackfriday
Reposted by Ryan Randall
In #Boise: Rediscovered Books, Artisans for Hope (textiles made by refugees), Hyde & Seek, Sagebrush Collaborative, Edward's Greenhouse, North End Organic Nursery, Mixed Greens, Record Exchange, Re-POP Gifts, Crazy Neighbor, Basque Museum, G. Willikers, or a Downtown Boise gift card.
Drop your favorite local shops below—let’s boost the folks who actually show up for us. I’m NOT shopping at Target, Amazon, and Home Depot, but putting my cash in local businesses that supports our communities. Our dollars are leverage. Let’s use them like it. #WeAintBuyingIt
November 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
In #Boise: Rediscovered Books, Artisans for Hope (textiles made by refugees), Hyde & Seek, Sagebrush Collaborative, Edward's Greenhouse, North End Organic Nursery, Mixed Greens, Record Exchange, Re-POP Gifts, Crazy Neighbor, Basque Museum, G. Willikers, or a Downtown Boise gift card.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Randomly flashing back to that time I had to patiently explain to an indie record store clerk that I wanted a single by DMX Krew, who is in fact not the excellent rapper DMX, and that yeah they have the same namesake drum machine but that DMX wasn't putting out 12" eps on Aphex Twin's Rephlex label.
November 28, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Randomly flashing back to that time I had to patiently explain to an indie record store clerk that I wanted a single by DMX Krew, who is in fact not the excellent rapper DMX, and that yeah they have the same namesake drum machine but that DMX wasn't putting out 12" eps on Aphex Twin's Rephlex label.
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen:
- Beauty Pill
- Broadcast
- Orbital
- Alton Ellis
- Atari Teenage Riot
- Beauty Pill
- Broadcast
- Orbital
- Alton Ellis
- Atari Teenage Riot
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen:
1. Polysics
2. Maximo Park
3. Brand New
4. Justin Bieber (Jaden Smith opened)
5. Manu Delago
1. Polysics
2. Maximo Park
3. Brand New
4. Justin Bieber (Jaden Smith opened)
5. Manu Delago
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen:
1. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
2. Sarah McLachlan
3. Van Halen
4. Ani DiFranco
5. Joe Satriani
1. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
2. Sarah McLachlan
3. Van Halen
4. Ani DiFranco
5. Joe Satriani
November 27, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen:
- Beauty Pill
- Broadcast
- Orbital
- Alton Ellis
- Atari Teenage Riot
- Beauty Pill
- Broadcast
- Orbital
- Alton Ellis
- Atari Teenage Riot
I'm not claiming that we have all the answers perfectly worked out.
But perhaps the good folks at @nature.com would want to watch the Library Publishing Coalition webinar on Developing AI Policies for Publications, with Ubiquity Press ( @ubiquityopen.bsky.social ) & @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social ?
But perhaps the good folks at @nature.com would want to watch the Library Publishing Coalition webinar on Developing AI Policies for Publications, with Ubiquity Press ( @ubiquityopen.bsky.social ) & @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social ?
November 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I'm not claiming that we have all the answers perfectly worked out.
But perhaps the good folks at @nature.com would want to watch the Library Publishing Coalition webinar on Developing AI Policies for Publications, with Ubiquity Press ( @ubiquityopen.bsky.social ) & @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social ?
But perhaps the good folks at @nature.com would want to watch the Library Publishing Coalition webinar on Developing AI Policies for Publications, with Ubiquity Press ( @ubiquityopen.bsky.social ) & @libraryleadpipe.bsky.social ?
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Generative AI is this weird little ferret that is carrying a tall pole with a red flag at the top, and it roots out the worst pre-existing problems in society and plants a little slop-flag in them
eg: how companies have made scientific publishing into a for-profit low quality content mill
eg: how companies have made scientific publishing into a for-profit low quality content mill
"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se
November 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Generative AI is this weird little ferret that is carrying a tall pole with a red flag at the top, and it roots out the worst pre-existing problems in society and plants a little slop-flag in them
eg: how companies have made scientific publishing into a for-profit low quality content mill
eg: how companies have made scientific publishing into a for-profit low quality content mill
Reposted by Ryan Randall
A few years old now but I wrote a book about how digital culture shaped human rights activism and why that might be a problem.
edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-inf...
edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-inf...
November 27, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A few years old now but I wrote a book about how digital culture shaped human rights activism and why that might be a problem.
edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-inf...
edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-inf...
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Look at these yahoos, with nary a care in the world on Thanksgiving Day. I counted 32 of them. Gobble 'til you wobble!
November 27, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Look at these yahoos, with nary a care in the world on Thanksgiving Day. I counted 32 of them. Gobble 'til you wobble!
Neighborhood hipster kids getting so retro, they're dancing the MySpace worm.
November 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Neighborhood hipster kids getting so retro, they're dancing the MySpace worm.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
I have thought about this commercial all week, and how much the persistent efforts by the adult character would mean to me as a kid. I also cried the first time I watched it.
Going to end on one of the most beautiful commercials ever made with the reminder and a call to remember the small things. They make a big difference to others.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
Love all, help all.
Go Jackets.
November 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I have thought about this commercial all week, and how much the persistent efforts by the adult character would mean to me as a kid. I also cried the first time I watched it.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
This is also relevant as context for any discussion of ‘AI’ in education; the philosophical and intellectual cultures underlying it all and driving the technofascists in charge of many ‘AI’ companies. An STS/philosophy of tech understanding of genAI is crucial yet often missing.
The Yarvinite fanbois nicknamed their movement as "Endarkenment" for a reason.
They see themselves as sole authorities and princes of "network states" with an eternal peasant class that is uneducated, miseducated and easy to lead by the nose.
They are training ppl to not think.
They see themselves as sole authorities and princes of "network states" with an eternal peasant class that is uneducated, miseducated and easy to lead by the nose.
They are training ppl to not think.
This is why OpenAI is selling so aggressively to education at all levels—they want to create entire generations of users incapable of reading, writing and thinking without ChatGPT to hold their hands
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
And teachers and professors should call this out for what it actually is
November 27, 2025 at 5:53 PM
This is also relevant as context for any discussion of ‘AI’ in education; the philosophical and intellectual cultures underlying it all and driving the technofascists in charge of many ‘AI’ companies. An STS/philosophy of tech understanding of genAI is crucial yet often missing.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
This is the correct take. Stewing in white supremacist propaganda is bad for your thinking. And if think you are so savvy that it won’t impact you, you are the exact kind of mark they are slowly converting (I’m looking at you, centrist pundits).
It’s really funny how a generation will roll its eyes at parents who watch Fox News but doesn’t see why being immersed in Twitter is having the same effect. Lots of serious people show up on Fox News too but that shouldn’t be your primary source on the news.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
This is the correct take. Stewing in white supremacist propaganda is bad for your thinking. And if think you are so savvy that it won’t impact you, you are the exact kind of mark they are slowly converting (I’m looking at you, centrist pundits).
Reposted by Ryan Randall
We're gonna need a truth and reconciliation commission and Nuremberg style trials to reckon with all of this evil, and any Dem candidate for office who shies away from a full reckoning in the name of "moving forward as a nation" can get well and truly fucked
I feel much safer today knowing that we deported a Babson College student back to a country where she hasn't lived since childhood.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
A Babson College student wanted to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. She was deported instead. - The Boston Globe
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was at Logan to catch a flight to Texas when immigration authorities detained her as she was about to board the plane.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
We're gonna need a truth and reconciliation commission and Nuremberg style trials to reckon with all of this evil, and any Dem candidate for office who shies away from a full reckoning in the name of "moving forward as a nation" can get well and truly fucked
Reposted by Ryan Randall
Hey #Boise, Mulligan's on Main Street has a free Thanksgiving dinner today starting at 2 p.m. They offer curb side pick up for those with kids. And upstairs at The Olympic there is free live music. Sounds more fun than my plans, lol.
November 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Hey #Boise, Mulligan's on Main Street has a free Thanksgiving dinner today starting at 2 p.m. They offer curb side pick up for those with kids. And upstairs at The Olympic there is free live music. Sounds more fun than my plans, lol.
Reposted by Ryan Randall
This Day in Labor History: November 27, 1937. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) debuted its play “Pins and Needles,” which would become the longest running musical of the 1930s. Let's talk about this moment of labor feminism meeting popular culture!
November 27, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This Day in Labor History: November 27, 1937. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) debuted its play “Pins and Needles,” which would become the longest running musical of the 1930s. Let's talk about this moment of labor feminism meeting popular culture!